Stay in Hungary after you graduate: “Study-to-work” residence permit

Residence permit for fresh graduates

Regularly, you can get a residence permit if you are a student, you have a job, or you run a business on your own. However, a student visa is valid only until you graduate, and you can apply for a residence permit based on gainful activity only when that activity is already being performed.

Getting a job or starting a business right after you graduate is very difficult. To help foreign students bridge the gap between graduation from a Hungarian university and starting a gainful activity, there is a new type of residence permit available for fresh graduates. This “study-to-work” permit allows applicants to stay another 9 months in Hungary after graduation, which is plenty of time to find a job or start a business – at which point this interim permit can be changed to a residence permit based on gainful activity.

Who can apply for the “study-to-work” residence permit?

Every foreign student receiving a degree from a Hungarian university or college (or any other higher education institute) is eligible for the study-to-work visa but you must hand in your application no later than 15 days before your student residence permit expires.

For the application, you will need to verify that:

• you are either looking for a job or setting up a company (for this, we offer consultation);
• you have the funds to stay in Hungary, for example with a bank statement showing that you either have enough money or regularly receive money from abroad;
• you have a valid health insurance;
• you have accommodation;
• you have the means to leave the EU in case your permit is denied.

The authorities might ask for further documents. If your “study-to-work” residence permit is denied, you cannot stay in Hungary after you graduate, and will have to leave the country when your student visa expires. As a result, it is essential that you apply BEFORE your student permit expires.

Convert your student visa to a full residence permit

So, if you are a foreigner studying at a Hungarian university and want to stay in Hungary after you graduate, you just have to

1. apply for a “study-to-work” residence permit for fresh graduates
2. find a job or make preparations for starting a business – for which you have 9 months
3. apply for a residence permit based on gainful activity (which is either your new employment or the operation of the company you start)

If you need help with handling this brand-new residence permit for you, look no further: we are right here. Bring your friends and ask for a significant group discount! Just call our office on +36.1.317.8570 Monday – Friday, or send us a letter to info@helpers.hu.

Stay in Hungary after you graduate!